As the offseason conversations pick up steam, those lists of “best free agents” available become hot topics.
One thing you won’t find on those graphics: Seattle Seahawks offensive linemen.
And for once, it’s not because they’re all terrible. It’s because none of them are free agents.
30 teams have at least one offensive lineman as an unrestricted free agent this year. Seattle has only Josh Jones, who’s not nothing; Jones is either lineman number six or seven on the depth chart and filled in remarkably for Charles Cross for three games. If they can have him back, I’m sure they’ll try. He’s among the best backup tackles in the league.
But the Seahawks are in rare air with five-starter continuity, a retained offensive line coach and run game coordinator, and some options to improve right guard or center if they so choose.
Could Seattle take another step forward into – dare we even say it? – the top-tier status of offensive line play? And if so, how would they do it?
After all, they weren’t all that bad last year. Some might even say pretty good.
The Seahawks were one of the biggest risers from year to year, seeing the best improvement as a unit outside maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Also, a quick nod to John Schneider. Evan Neal was drafted seventh overall in the 2022 draft, two picks before the Hawks took Charles Cross. Neal is going to hit the open market, with an estimated value of $4.3 million per year. Meanwhile, Cross has just been extended as a trustworthy mainstay at left tackle.
The biggest win for Seattle is that they don’t head into free agency with a gaping chasm of deficiency at offensive line. That’s a change from most of the past decade, including last year. Gray Zabel is awesome, but it would be best to not spend every first round pick on a guard, would it not?
Because of the continuity – something that they hold in common with quite a few top-ranked lines – and the high-level players that need attention (and big contracts) to bring back, I believe it’s more likely than not that we will see the same starting five as the 2026 projected starters.
Which, yes, would include Anthony Bradford.
Here’s why.
Interestingly, Spotrac and ESPN disagree sensationally when it comes to the free agent talent this year. However, it is more widely accepted that center Tyler Linderbaum is one of the best players available. He is legit, 25 years old, and expensive. He would also be an improvement over Jalen Sundell and would probably be the one exception to my previous claim. I don’t see them dropping the $17 million or more it might take to get him. After him, the list is almost exclusive tackles like Rasheed Walker, Braden Smith, and more. It’s a pass on all of them. We’re just wondering if there’s one guard out there.
There might be one in David Edwards. ESPN likes Isaac Seumalo more but I don’t. He’s 32, and I don’t think that direction is why John Benton wanted to stay in Seattle. Edwards has played very well for the Buffalo Bills, but more at left guard than right guard. Bummer.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks have the 32nd pick and only three more later in the upcoming draft. It would be shocking if they went guard in the first round, which means only one thing.
The most likely scenario is a later round player to compete with Anthony Bradford for the starting right guard spot. And if we know one thing about Anthony Bradford, it’s that he looks Thanos-level unbeatable in summer and on occasional run plays in the postseason.
One of the NFL’s biggest surprises is probably going to run it back.